By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) from Willamette University has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Baseball Position Player Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts in a non-conference game against Linfield University and a three-game NWC series against Whitworth University. The Bearcats won all four games, outscoring Linfield 10-5 on March 22 and then sweeping Whitworth, 3-2 in 10 innings and 16-7 on March 26, and 11-1 on March 27.

Fischel hit .500 (6 of 12) at the plate in Willamette's sweep of Whitworth and was 6 of 13  (.462) for the week. Overall, he scored five runs and earned eight RBIs, two home runs, two doubles, and two walks. He recorded two hits in each game against the Pirates. On defense, he provided the Bearcats with 14 assists, three putouts, and no errors during the three-game series against Whitworth at John Lewis Field. Fischel  participated in three double plays over the weekend.

Against Whitworth, Fischel played a key role in winning each game. In the 3-2 extra-inning game, he hit a solo homer in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the eighth inning to tie the Pirates. He didn't score the winning run, but he was intentionally walked and was on base when the game-winning balk occurred. In the second game, Fischel had two hits, scored twice, and earned one RBI. In the third game, he was 2 of 4 with a double, a three-run homer, and a sacrifice fly on offense, while earning eight assists on defense. His assist total is tied with two other Bearcats for third on Willamette's all-time single game list.

This year, Fischel is batting .287 with 18 runs, 19 RBIs, five doubles, and three homers. He has a career-high .396 on-base percentage this season. He leads the Bearcats with 59 assists and has 21 putouts. In his career, he has earned 330 assists and 162 putouts, and has helped Willamette turn 54 double plays. He is seventh all-time at WU in assists and is seventh in double plays.

Willamette is scheduled to play at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, this weekend in three NWC games. On Saturday, April 1, the Bearcats and the Blues will open the series with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will play one game on Sunday, April 2 at 12 p.m.